U.S. patent number 8,359,701 [Application Number 12/297,366] was granted by the patent office on 2013-01-29 for wiper blade.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Robert Bosch GmbH. The grantee listed for this patent is Hans Beelen, Jan Bonroy, Herve Bratec, Hans Braun, Marcello Bubba, Peter De Block, Bart Fatan, Edwin Luypaerts, Liesbet van Vinckenroye, Robert Vertongen, Eric Windmolders. Invention is credited to Hans Beelen, Jan Bonroy, Herve Bratec, Hans Braun, Marcello Bubba, Peter De Block, Bart Fatan, Edwin Luypaerts, Liesbet van Vinckenroye, Robert Vertongen, Eric Windmolders.
United States Patent |
8,359,701 |
De Block , et al. |
January 29, 2013 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Wiper blade
Abstract
The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with a wiper strip
(14) which has a wiper lip (16) and a head strip (20) which is
integrally formed on said wiper lip and, in a first longitudinal
channel (26), has a supporting element in the form of a spring rail
(18) with a flat cross section, and has a spoiler (22, 38, 46) on
that side which faces away from the wiper lip (16). It is proposed
that the spoiler (22, 38, 46) surrounds the head strip (20) on its
longitudinal sides by means of guide rails (40).
Inventors: |
De Block; Peter (Halen,
BE), Bonroy; Jan (Heverlee, BE), Braun;
Hans (Tienen, BE), Beelen; Hans (Herk de Stad,
BE), Fatan; Bart (Kermt, BE), Windmolders;
Eric (Kermt, BE), van Vinckenroye; Liesbet
(Tienen, BE), Luypaerts; Edwin (Balen, BE),
Vertongen; Robert (Heusden-Zolder, BE), Bubba;
Marcello (Heverlee, BE), Bratec; Herve (Wilsele,
BE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
De Block; Peter
Bonroy; Jan
Braun; Hans
Beelen; Hans
Fatan; Bart
Windmolders; Eric
van Vinckenroye; Liesbet
Luypaerts; Edwin
Vertongen; Robert
Bubba; Marcello
Bratec; Herve |
Halen
Heverlee
Tienen
Herk de Stad
Kermt
Kermt
Tienen
Balen
Heusden-Zolder
Heverlee
Wilsele |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE
BE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart,
DE)
|
Family
ID: |
38134761 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/297,366 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
PCT
Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2007/052965 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
October 16, 2008 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2007/124989 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
November 08, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20090089956 A1 |
Apr 9, 2009 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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May 3, 2006 [DE] |
|
|
10 2006 020 524 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/250.201;
15/250.361; 15/250.43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S
1/3877 (20130101); B60S 1/3881 (20130101); B60S
1/381 (20130101); B60S 2001/382 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60S
1/38 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;15/250.201,250.43,250.44,250.361,250.451-250.454 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
10044913 |
|
Dec 2001 |
|
DE |
|
10334609 |
|
Jun 2004 |
|
DE |
|
10350274 |
|
Sep 2004 |
|
DE |
|
10312979 |
|
Oct 2004 |
|
DE |
|
102005009205 |
|
Oct 2005 |
|
DE |
|
2851976 |
|
Sep 2004 |
|
FR |
|
9039743 |
|
Feb 1997 |
|
JP |
|
2003534973 |
|
Nov 2003 |
|
JP |
|
00/07856 |
|
Feb 2000 |
|
WO |
|
2005108177 |
|
Nov 2005 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
PCT/EP2007/052965 International Search Report. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Graham; Gary
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Michael Best & Friedrich
LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A wiper blade (12) with a wiper strip (14) which possesses a
wiper lip (16) and a head strip (20) which is integrally formed on
the wiper lip and which has in a first longitudinal duct (26) a
carrying element in the form of a spring rail (18) of flat cross
section and which carries a spoiler (22, 38, 46) on its side facing
away from the wiper lip (16), characterized in that the spoiler
(22, 38, 46) surrounds the head strip (20) on its longitudinal
sides by means of guide rails (30, 40), characterized in that the
first longitudinal duct (26) substantially surrounds the spring
rail (18), and characterized in that the spoiler (22, 38, 46)
possesses, on that side of the head strip (20) which faces away
from the wiper lip (16), at least one second longitudinal duct (32,
42) which runs parallel to the first longitudinal duct (26) and
which has a substantially identical cross section to the first
longitudinal duct (26).
2. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the guide rails (40) are extruded on the spoiler (22, 38, 46)
and have a higher hardness than the remaining spoiler (22, 38,
46).
3. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that at least one end piece (48) closed on an end face is
integrally formed on the spoiler (46).
4. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in
that the second longitudinal duct (32, 42) is connected via a
longitudinal gap (44) to a space between the guide rails (40) for
receiving the head strip (20).
5. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in
that the carrying element comprises a second spring rail (28, 34)
positioned in the second longitudinal duct (32, 42) in the spoiler
(22, 38, 46).
6. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in
that the carrying element (18, 28, 34) has a cross section which
varies in its width and/or height over the length of the spring
rail (18).
7. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in
that the first spring rail (18) possesses a different length, as
compared with the second spring rail (28, 34).
8. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in
that the cross section of one and/or of both spring rails (18, 28,
34) varies in its width (50) and/or height (52) over their
length.
9. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that
the cross section of one and/or of both spring rails (18, 28, 34)
varies in its width (50) and/or height (52) over their length.
10. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 5 characterized in
that the first spring rail (18) possesses a different length, as
compared with the second spring rail (28, 34).
11. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 5 characterized in
that the cross section of one and/or of both spring rails (18, 28,
34) varies in its width (50) and/or height (52) over their
length.
12. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that at least one end piece (48) closed on an end face is
integrally formed on the spoiler (46).
13. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the second longitudinal duct (32, 42) is connected via a
longitudinal gap (44) to a space between the guide rails (40) for
receiving the head strip (20).
14. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the carrying element comprises a second spring rail (28, 34)
positioned in the second longitudinal duct (32, 42) in the spoiler
(22, 38, 46).
15. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in
that the first spring rail (18) possesses a different length, as
compared with the second spring rail (28, 34).
16. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in
that the cross section of one and/or of both spring rails (18, 28,
34) varies in its width (50) and/or height (52) over their
length.
17. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the carrying element (18, 28, 34) has a cross section which
varies in its width and/or height over the length of the spring
rail (18).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a wiper blade.
DE 198 35 065 A1 discloses a joint-free wiper blade, the basic body
of which consists essentially of a head strip, on which a wiper lip
is integrally formed via a tilting web. The head strip possesses a
longitudinal duct in which a spring-elastic carrying element is
embedded. The latter has a rectangular cross section, the wide side
running approximately parallel to the vehicle windshield. The width
of the carrying element decreases from the middle region toward the
ends. The carrying element, due to its curvature, persists during
operation a prestress such that the wiper blade bears with its
wiper lip against the vehicle windshield with suitable pressure
force. That side of the head strip which faces away from the wiper
lip is flat and possesses a uniform wall thickness with respect to
the longitudinal duct. On the back of the head strip, in the middle
region of the wiper blade, an adapter is attached which serves for
connecting the wiper blade to a wiper arm and which laterally
surrounds the head strip in the region of the carrying element by
means of claws.
A joint-free wiper blade with a head strip, on which a wiper lip is
integrally formed in the conventional way, is known from DE 10 334
609 A1. The head strip has a longitudinal duct for receiving a
spring-elastic carrying element having a cross section running in
an elongate manner transversely with respect to the wiper lip. On
the cover side of the head strip which faces away from the wiper
lip, a spoiler is integrally formed. This may consist of the same
material as the head strip or of a softer material. In both cases,
the wiper blades are expediently produced by an extrusion
method.
Furthermore, DE 10 2005 009 205 A1 discloses a joint-free wiper
blade with a wiper strip, the head strip of which has two lateral
longitudinal grooves and of which the cover side, which faces away
from a wiper lip, is connected to an elongate spring-elastic
carrying element. The latter has a rectangular cross section in a
direction transverse with respect to the head strip. The carrying
element and part of the head strip are surrounded by a guide rail
which engages with longitudinally running legs into the lateral
longitudinal grooves of the head strip. The guide rail is itself
guided in a guide profile of a spoiler, so that the spoiler is
firmly connected to the wiper strip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the spoiler is designed as a separate
component and with guide rails surrounds the head strip on its
longitudinal sides. The spoiler can thereby be produced
independently of the wiper strip from a material which, on the one
hand, impedes the pressure force of the wiper blade only slightly
and, on the other hand, allows good lateral guidance. In this case,
it may be expedient that the guide rails are extruded on the
spoiler and have a higher hardness than the remaining spoiler.
In order to reduce the weight of the spoiler and improve its
flexibility, it is advantageous that the spoiler possesses, on that
side of the head strip which faces away from the wiper lip, at
least one second longitudinal duct which runs parallel to the first
longitudinal duct and which has a similar cross section to the
first longitudinal duct. As a result, during the mounting of the
wiper strip, the guide rails can be bent up elastically outward, so
that the wiper strip does not have to be pushed in the longitudinal
direction of the spoiler between the guide rails, but, instead, can
be inserted transversally with respect to the spoiler between the
guide rails. At least one end piece closed on the end face can thus
be formed integrally on the spoiler, with the result that at least
one of the otherwise conventional end caps of the wiper blade may
be dispensed with. The second longitudinal duct may advantageously
be connected via a longitudinal gap to the space between the guide
rails for receiving the head strip. The longitudinal gap is
conducive to bending up the guide rails, particularly when these
consist of a harder material than the remaining spoiler.
Moreover, the second longitudinal duct may receive a second spring
rail which, together with the first spring rail, forms the carrying
element. This affords further possibilities for modifying the
overall spring rigidity of the carrying element, in that the cross
section of one and/or of both spring rails varies in its width
and/or height over the length of the spring rail. The spring
properties of the spring rails can thereby be modified within wide
limits, so that the pressure forces over the length of the wiper
blade can be adapted optimally to the stipulations of the
respective application. As a rule, the width and/or the height will
increase from the ends of the spring rail toward its middle region.
Basically, other characteristics may also be implemented, in which
the width and/or the height increase or decrease in a wavy or
stepped manner.
The second spring rail, which runs parallel to the first spring
rail in the spoiler, may be modified in its cross section in the
same way as the first spring rail. Moreover, the two spring rails
may possess different lengths, preferably the second spring rail
being selected to be shorter than the first spring rail. After the
mounting of the wiper strip, the second spring rail is pushed into
the spoiler in the longitudinal direction. In the mounted state,
said second spring rail stiffens the spoiler profile and blocks the
guide rails, so that these can no longer be bent up laterally.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further advantages may be gathered from the following drawing
description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated
in the drawing. The drawing, description and claims contain
numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will
expediently also consider the features individually and combine
them into appropriate further combinations.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a wiper blade according to the
invention,
FIG. 2 shows a perspective section along the line II-II in FIG.
1,
FIG. 3 shows a variant of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of one end of the wiper blade as a
variant of FIG. 1,
FIG. 5 shows a perspective and partially transparent view of a
wiper blade with a carrying element which has a variable cross
section over its length,
FIG. 6 shows a perspective and partially transparent view of a
wiper blade with a first carrying element with which a second
carrying element is arranged in a longitudinal duct of the
spoiler,
FIG. 7 shows a variant of FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 shows a cross section through a spoiler with extruded-on
guide rails for the wiper strip, and
FIG. 9 shows a cross section through a spoiler according to FIG. 8
with a mounted wiper strip having two carrying elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a non-loaded wiper blade 12 on a vehicle windshield
10. It possesses a wiper strip 14 with a wiper lip 16 (FIG. 2)
which is connected in the conventional way to a head strip 20. On
that side of the head strip 20 which faces away from the wiper lip
16, a spoiler 22 is provided, which laterally surrounds the head
strip 20 by means of guide rails 30. End caps 24 are placed at the
ends of the wiper blade 12. At least one of these may be dispensed
with if it is replaced by an end piece which is integrally formed
on the spoiler 22 and which is designated by 48 in the version
according to FIG. 4 in the case of a spoiler 46.
Located in the head strip 20 is a longitudinal duct 26 for
receiving a first spring rail 18 which serves as a carrying element
for the wiper blade 12. The spring rail 18 is bent forward such
that, in the non-loaded state (FIG. 1), it imparts to the wiper
blade 12 a curvature which is greater than the greatest curvature
of the vehicle windshield 10. A wiper arm, not illustrated,
transmits to a connection element 56, having a hub 60 and fastened
to the wiper blade 12 by means of claws 58, a pressure force which
presses the wiper lip 16 of the wiper blade 12 onto the vehicle
windshield 10, the aim being to achieve over the length of the
wiper lip 16 an optimal pressure distribution which influences the
wiping quality. The pressure distribution depends, inter alia, on
the curvature of the vehicle windshield 10 and on the carrying
element in the form of the spring rail 18 and also on its spring
properties. These are determined, on the one hand, by the material
and, on the other hand, by the cross-sectional distribution of the
spring rail 18 over the length.
The spring rail 18 illustrated in FIG. 5 possesses a width 50 and a
height 52 which increase from the ends toward the middle region.
This may take place continuously or in a stepped manner. Narrower
regions may alternate with wider regions or flatter regions may
alternate with higher regions. As a further possibility of a
variation, there are modifications in which only the width 50 or
the height 52 is varied or the variations are carried out in
combination and are co-ordinated correspondingly with one
another.
In the version according to FIG. 6, the carrying element consists
of two spring rails 18 and 28, the first spring rail 18 being
accommodated in the longitudinal duct 26 of the head strip 20,
while the second spring rail 28 is arranged in a longitudinal duct
32 of the spoiler 22. The second spring rail 28, which runs at a
distance from and parallel to the first spring rail 18 on that side
of the head strip 20 which faces away from the wiper lip 16, may be
modified in the same way as the first spring rail 18. Furthermore,
the spring rails 18, 28 may have different lengths, with the cross
section remaining the same, or in addition to the other
modifications. In the example illustrated, the second spring rail
28 is shorter than the first spring rail 18. Basically, however,
the first spring rail 18 may also be the shorter. As compared with
the version according to FIG. 6, in the version according to FIG. 7
the spring rails 18 and 34 possess an identical length, but their
width 50 varies over their length.
The material of the spoiler 22 may be selected such that the
spoiler 22, in conjunction with the longitudinal duct 32 and, if
appropriate, with a further longitudinal duct 36, is flexible such
that its guide rails 30 can be elastically bent up laterally in
order to mount the wiper strip 14. The wiper strip 14 therefore
does not have to be mounted in the longitudinal direction of the
spoiler 22, but, instead, can be inserted transversely thereto
between the guide rails 30. This operation may be made easier in
that, as shown in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3,
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the longitudinal duct 42 in the spoiler 38 is
connected via a longitudinal gap 44 to the interspace between the
guide rails 40. In this case, as depicted by dashed lines in FIG.
8, the spoiler 38 can easily be bent up in the direction of the
arrow 54.
The longitudinal gap 44 is advantageous, above all, when the
spoiler 38 consists of two materials, specifically of a harder
material for the guide rails 40 and of a softer material for the
remaining spoiler 38. What is thereby achieved at the same time is
that, along with a good lateral guidance of the wiper strip 14, the
spoiler 38 possesses a high flexibility in the longitudinal
direction perpendicularly to the vehicle windshield 10.
To mount the wiper blade 12, first, the first spring rail 18 is
inserted into the longitudinal duct 26 of the head strip 20. The
head strip 20 is thereafter inserted into the bent-up profile of
the spoiler 38. To stiffen and block the guide rails 40, finally,
the second spring rail 34 is inserted into the longitudinal duct 42
of the spoiler 38, so that the guide rails 40 can no longer be bent
up laterally in the direction of the arrow 54 (FIG. 9). The
configuration possibilities according to the invention give rise to
so many variation possibilities that all possible applications can
be covered by the wiper blade 12.
* * * * *